Our Team
Bez Bariéry brings together an interdisciplinary team of experts, researchers, and professionals with hands-on experience, united by a common goal: to identify and systematically remove physical, social, informational, digital, and institutional barriers while strengthening inclusion and the cognitive and digital resilience of society.
Our strength lies in connecting scientific research, public policy, technical and transport expertise, information technologies, regional development, sustainability, tourism, project management, and community-based experience. Our team combines academic expertise, experience in developing public policies and international projects, technical know-how, and first-hand understanding of the everyday barriers faced by people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.
At Bez Bariéry, we do not view accessibility solely as a matter of removing physical or architectural barriers. We understand it more broadly as access to spaces, transport, services, information, education, digital technologies, and opportunities for full participation in society. In an increasingly digital and information-intensive environment, we consider it equally important that people are able to navigate complex information situations, critically evaluate content, use digital technologies safely, and maintain autonomy in their decision-making.
For this reason, the development of digital and cognitive resilience is a natural part of our work. We understand digital resilience as the ability to function safely, competently, and responsibly in digital environments, while cognitive resilience involves the capacity to recognise manipulative or misleading content, deal with uncertainty, verify information, and withstand pressures that may undermine independent decision-making. These capabilities are particularly important for protecting vulnerable groups and supporting their full and meaningful participation in society.
Our aim is to develop feasible, measurable, and sustainable solutions that promote independence, equal opportunities, quality of life, information security, and the dignified participation of every individual. Through national and international cooperation, we seek to connect accessibility, inclusion, media and information literacy, digital safety, and societal resilience within a broader framework for systemic change.
Team members
Prof. Ing. Beáta Gavurová, PhD., MBA
President of Bez Bariéry
Professor | Researcher | Expert in Public Policy, Resilience and the Assessment of Societal Risks
Professional profile
Prof. Ing. Beáta Gavurová, PhD., MBA is active in the academic and research environment in Slovakia and the Czech Republic. She is a professor at the Technical University of Košice, while her professional and research activities are also linked to Tomas Bata University in Zlín and the First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague. Her long-term work focuses on interdisciplinary research with a strong overlap into public policy, strategic decision-making and applied practice.
Her main areas of expertise include public health and quality of life, social and regional inequalities and access to public services, safety and societal resilience, digital and information resilience, media and information literacy, and information disorders in society, as well as the societal consequences of digital transformation, the responsible use of artificial intelligence, and issues related to AI governance and regulation. She places particular emphasis on the development of public policies grounded in data and scientific evidence.
In her professional work, she applies advanced quantitative, econometric and decision-support methods and contributes to the development of analytical models, indices, methodologies, monitoring systems and decision-support tools. She systematically links research findings with the needs of public administration and decision-making practice.
She has extensive experience in leading and coordinating national and international research projects, interdisciplinary teams and large-scale empirical studies. She collaborates with universities, research organisations, public authorities, ministries and other governmental institutions, regional and local authorities, professional organisations and international partners. Her expert activities include the preparation of analytical, strategic and methodological materials for public authorities, government departments and other decision-making institutions, particularly in the areas of public health, social and regional policy, safety, education, societal resilience and technological change.
An important part of her professional work is the translation of scientific knowledge and large-scale data analyses into concrete recommendations, methodologies, preventive measures and public policies. She connects academic research with the needs of public institutions and promotes evidence-based decision-making grounded in measurable indicators and the assessment of real societal impacts.
Role in Bez Bariéry
As President of Bez Bariéry, she oversees the organisation’s strategic direction, professional and research activities, the development of national and international cooperation, and the preparation of analytical, methodological and strategic outputs. She brings to the organisation extensive experience from academic research, public policy and cooperation with public and professional institutions.
She also contributes to the preparation of analytical and expert materials for strategies and measures aimed at removing physical, social and systemic barriers, improving access to services and promoting equality of opportunity.
Her ambition is to develop Bez Bariéry as a professionally respected platform connecting research, public administration, decision-making practice and civil society, capable of identifying barriers and inequalities through data, assessing their societal consequences, and proposing feasible solutions that strengthen accessibility, independence, inclusion and quality of life.
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Ing. Vladimír Svrček
First Vice-Chairman of Bez Bariéry
Expert | International Accessibility Standards, USTAD and Systemic Barrier Removal
Professional profile
Ing. Vladimír Svrček combines technical, economic and expert-assessment experience with long-term practical work in accessibility. His university education covers transport engineering and technical testing as well as economics, management and finance. He further developed his expertise through postgraduate study in business economics and management, asset valuation and bank management, and has professional experience as an expert in road transport and valuation.
He became systematically involved in accessibility after personal experience with disability, which gave him a direct understanding of accessibility not only as a technical issue but also as a question of access to services, administrative processes and equal opportunities. Since 2016, he has worked on systematic barrier removal in accordance with international guidelines and standards.
His professional activities include negotiations with public authorities and other responsible institutions, the preparation of expert materials, standards and legislative proposals, and the development of accessibility-related projects. A particular focus of his work is the development of international universal accessibility standards for buildings, products and services used by persons with disabilities, known as USTAD.
His contribution lies in connecting technical and economic assessment with the practical perspective of users of public space and services. He promotes systemic, measurable and internationally comparable criteria that allow accessibility to be assessed consistently and objectively.
Role in Bez Bariéry
As First Vice-Chairman of Bez Bariéry, he contributes to the organisation’s strategic direction, negotiations with public institutions, project preparation and the promotion of systemic accessibility solutions.
He leads the organisation’s expert agenda related to USTAD international standards and contributes to legislative, technical and methodological proposals. His objective is to support an environment in which accessibility is treated as a standard requirement in the design of buildings, products and services rather than as an additional modification.
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Jozef Padych
Second Vice-Chairman of Bez Bariéry
Sports and leisure activities for persons with disabilities
Professional profile
Jozef Padych focuses on creating opportunities for people with disabilities to participate in sports, leisure and community activities. His work demonstrates that physical activity is not only a matter of health, but also an important means of inclusion, independence and social participation.
He supports activities that help remove practical and social barriers preventing people with reduced mobility from taking part in everyday community life. Through cooperation, personal engagement and shared experience, he contributes to building an environment in which sport and leisure are accessible to everyone.
Ing. Juraj Kovalinka
Third Vice-Chairman of Bez Bariéry
Expert | Accessibility in Transport, Public Infrastructure and Investment Construction
Professional profile
Ing. Juraj Kovalinka works in investment construction and development and has long been involved in the practical application of accessibility principles in public and transport infrastructure. He currently works at the Department of Investment Construction and Development of the City of Nitra as an officer responsible for construction preparation. His professional background combines engineering education with FIDIC Red Book and Yellow Book qualifications.
A significant part of his professional experience is linked to motorway infrastructure. Through cooperation with the Slovak National Motorway Company, he contributed to accessibility improvements at motorway service areas and border crossings and to the introduction of the Eurokey system. He also participated in discussions with fuel-station operators concerning the gradual removal of barriers at facilities located along the motorway network.
In 2018, he received an award from the Minister of Transport of the Slovak Republic for his contribution to barrier removal in transport. His practical experience in the preparation and implementation of investment projects enables him to identify accessibility barriers at the design stage and advocate solutions responsive to the needs of people with reduced mobility or orientation.
His work is based on the principle that accessibility should be an integral component of infrastructure quality. He focuses on practical design details - gradients, widths, surfaces, movement routes and connections - that determine whether public space is genuinely usable by everyone.
Role in Bez Bariéry
As Third Vice-Chairman of Bez Bariéry, he contributes to the organisation’s expert agenda in transport and built-environment accessibility, cooperation with public and private infrastructure operators, and the development of practical barrier-removal solutions.
He brings experience from motorway and municipal investment practice and supports the principle that accessible public space must be treated as a standard requirement from project design and permitting through to implementation.
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Prof. Mgr. Volodymyr Polishchuk, DrSc.
International Research Project Manager at Bez Bariéry
Professor | Researcher | Expert in Information Technology, Decision Support and International Cooperation
Professional profile
Prof. Mgr. Volodymyr Polishchuk, DrSc. is a researcher at the Faculty of Aeronautics of the Technical University of Košice and a professor and Vice-Dean for International Relations at the Faculty of Information Technologies of Uzhhorod National University, Ukraine. His professional work connects information technology, aviation, software engineering, process management and decision support in complex systems.
His research interests include decision-support models and methods, information and network security, data protection, software technologies and digital innovation. A significant part of his work focuses on developing analytical and information systems for decision-making under uncertainty and risk.
In recent years, he has also developed research in artificial intelligence, green and digital transformation, sustainable tourism, the circular economy, Industry 5.0, and innovation in aviation and education. He is actively involved in international research projects and academic cooperation, linking technological solutions with economic, environmental and societal objectives.
His professional profile is characterised by the ability to connect scientific research, project management and international cooperation with the practical implementation of analytical and digital solutions.
Role in Bez Bariéry
As International Research Project Manager at Bez Bariéry, he supports the development of international partnerships, the preparation and coordination of research projects, and the organisation’s cooperation with universities, research institutions and expert partners abroad.
He brings to Bez Bariéry expertise in information technologies, intelligent systems and decision support, contributing to research and methodological solutions that use modern digital technologies to support an inclusive, safe, sustainable and barrier-free society.
Mgr. Inna Polishchuk, PhD.
Researcher at Bez Bariéry
Researcher | Expert in Information Systems, Decision Support and Digital Transformation in Tourism
Professional profile
Mgr. Inna Polishchuk, PhD. is a university lecturer and researcher at the Department of Software Systems, Faculty of Information Technologies, Uzhhorod National University, Ukraine. Her professional work connects information systems and technologies, analytical modelling and applied research in tourism.
Her research interests include information systems and technologies in tourism, digital transformation in tourism, decision-support models and methods, information security, and the management of cross-border cooperation projects. She places particular emphasis on expert, fuzzy and hybrid models for assessing complex phenomena and supporting decisions under uncertainty.
Her doctoral research addressed models and methods of information technology for assessing tourist-flow levels. She also develops research in regional sustainability assessment, the socio-economic implications of tourism digitalisation, and decision-support models applicable to regional and public-policy contexts.
Her professional profile combines software technologies with practical decision-making needs, enabling complex data and expert inputs to be transformed into transparent analytical outputs and management-relevant evidence.
Role in Bez Bariéry
As a researcher at Bez Bariéry, she contributes to analytical and international research activities, particularly in digital tools, the assessment of regional and social conditions, and the preparation of evidence for projects with a cross-border dimension.
She brings expertise in information technologies and decision support that can be applied to analytical models and solutions aimed at improving accessibility, inclusion, information access and the quality of services.
Ing. Martin Mikeska, PhD.
Researcher at the organization Bez Bariéry
Economist | Expert in Economic Growth, Technological Change, and Competitiveness
Profesijný profil
Martin Mikeska, Ing., PhD., is an assistant professor at the Faculty of Management and Economics at Tomáš Baťa University in Zlín, Czech Republic. His research focuses on the sources of economic growth in the era of technological change and their impact on the competitiveness of businesses and the economy as a whole.
His research focuses on macroeconomics, the digital economy, the international economic environment, and the history of economic thought. A significant part of his current research focuses on the digital transformation of businesses and the economic implications of implementing artificial intelligence. He also focuses on the circular economy and sustainable development as factors in long-term competitiveness.
In his work, he examines how technological innovations and other structural changes affect productivity, business performance, and long-term economic development. He combines economic theory with empirical research and business practice to better understand the mechanisms through which technological and social changes translate into economic growth and prosperity.
Role in Bez Bariéry Organization
As a researcher at Bez Bariéry, he contributes to research and analytical activities focused on the economic and social consequences of barriers, inequalities, and technological changes. He brings an economic perspective to the organization’s work on issues of accessibility, inclusion, economic resilience, and competitiveness.
His area of expertise allows him to examine barriers not only as social or technical problems, but also as factors influencing the realization of human potential, productivity, and the long-term prosperity of society. Within the organization, he promotes the integration of economic research, data analysis, and practical solutions that can be applied in the development of projects, methodologies, and public policies.
Ing. Barbora Iannaccone, PhD.
Researcher at Bez Bariéry
Researcher | Expert in Sustainable Tourism, Regional Development and Quality of Life
Professional profile
Ing. Barbora Iannaccone, PhD. is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Geo and Mining Tourism, Faculty of Mining, Ecology, Process Control and Geotechnologies, Technical University of Košice. Her professional profile connects tourism, regional development, environmental sciences, economics, marketing and social-science research.
Her research and publishing activities focus on sustainable development, geo and mining tourism, tourism-destination management, environmental management, marketing and digital marketing, consumer behaviour and quality of life. In tourism research, she examines the recreational potential of natural and human-made sites, the sustainable use of mining and geological heritage, the role of visitor centres, GIS applications and the use of geoheritage in destination development.
Her research is strongly interdisciplinary. She also examines environmental determinants of quality of life, renewable energy sources, biogas facilities, the environmental effects of transport and selected public-health issues. She participates in national research projects and contributes to academic peer-review activities.
Her professional work connects analytical assessment of territories, consumer behaviour and environmental conditions with the development of sustainable and practically applicable solutions for tourism and regional development. Particular attention is given to quality of life and environmental accessibility as components of sustainable destination development.
Role in Bez Bariéry
As a researcher at Bez Bariéry, she contributes to research and analytical activities focused on quality of life, accessible and inclusive tourism, regional development and environmental conditions.
She brings interdisciplinary expertise that helps connect accessibility with sustainable tourism, natural and cultural heritage, digital tools and regional development. Her work supports evidence-based solutions aimed at improving access to services, quality of life and the inclusiveness of destinations and communities.
Ing. Štefan Gavura, PhD.
Researcher at Bez Bariéry
Researcher | Expert in Sustainability, Organisational Performance and Social Responsibility
Professional Profile
Ing. Štefan Gavura, PhD. works in the academic and research environment, focusing on the economic, managerial and societal dimensions of sustainable development. His professional and research activities are associated with the Technical University of Košice, where he focuses on organisational performance, sustainability and socially responsible management.
His main areas of expertise include performance measurement and management, process and strategic management, corporate social responsibility, sustainability in tourism and services, and the economic and structural dimensions of sustainable development. Particular attention is devoted to linking economic performance with the environmental and social responsibility of organisations.
His research activities also address contemporary issues related to sustainable supply chains, social sustainability, logistics transformation and Industry 5.0 principles, connecting traditional management approaches with emerging requirements for organisational resilience, sustainability and social responsibility.
In his research, he applies data-driven and analytical approaches to the assessment of economic and societal processes and focuses on translating research findings into practically applicable recommendations for organisations and public-sector decision-making.
Role in Bez Bariéry
As a researcher at Bez Bariéry, he contributes to the preparation and implementation of research projects, data analysis, the development of indicators and methodological outputs, and the assessment of the economic, social and regional dimensions of the issues addressed by the organisation.
He brings to Bez Bariéry expertise particularly in sustainability, social responsibility, organisational performance and efficiency, and the assessment of societal impacts. His work contributes to the development of analytical evidence and practical solutions supporting access to services, inclusion, quality of life and the sustainable functioning of organisations and communities.
Ing. Kristína Pramuková, PhD.
Researcher at Bez Bariéry
Researcher | Expert in Geo and Mining Tourism, Sustainability and Regional Development
Professional profile
Ing. Kristína Pramuková, PhD. works in the academic and research environment at the Technical University of Košice, where her professional activities are associated with the Department of Geo and Mining Tourism at the Faculty of Mining, Ecology, Process Control and Geotechnologies. Her work connects tourism, regional development, sustainability and the responsible use of natural and cultural heritage.
Her main areas of expertise include geo and mining tourism, sustainable tourism, destination development, the presentation and interpretation of natural and cultural heritage, and the assessment of conditions influencing the attractiveness and long-term sustainability of regions. She also focuses on linking academic research with the needs of destination organisations, local authorities and regional stakeholders.
She contributes to research, project and educational activities focused on sustainable territorial development and innovation in tourism. Her professional experience also includes cooperation with expert and destination organisations and involvement in projects connecting research, practice and regional development.
Her work emphasises the use of data, field-based knowledge and interdisciplinary approaches in developing solutions that support more accessible, sustainable and inclusive destinations and communities.
Role in Bez Bariéry
As a researcher at Bez Bariéry, she contributes to research and analytical activities related to accessible tourism, cultural and natural heritage, regional development and quality of life.
She brings to the organisation expertise in sustainable tourism and destination and regional development, supporting the preparation of evidence-based solutions that connect accessibility, inclusion, sustainability and responsible territorial development.
Ing. Mária Fulajtárová, PhD.
Researcher at Bez Bariéry
Researcher | Expert in Eco-Innovation, Circular Economy and Sustainable Transformation
Professional Profile
Ing. Mária Fulajtárová, PhD. works in the academic and research environment, focusing on sustainability, eco-innovation and the transformation of economic and organisational processes. Her professional and research activities are associated with the Technical University of Košice.
Her main areas of expertise include eco-innovation, the circular economy, sustainable business, small and medium-sized enterprises, environmental and social dimensions of business processes, and sustainable economic transformation. She has systematically addressed the application of eco-innovation and circular economy principles in the context of small and medium-sized enterprises.
Her research activities also extend to sustainable logistics, decarbonisation, circular and reverse flows, digitalisation, ESG, social responsibility in supply chains, and social sustainability in the context of Industry 5.0.
In her professional work, she connects the economic, environmental and social dimensions of sustainability and examines how innovation, data and systemic transformation can support more efficient, resilient and socially responsible organisations.
Role in Bez Bariéry
As a researcher at Bez Bariéry, she contributes to the preparation and implementation of research and analytical activities, data processing, the development of indicators and methodologies, and the preparation of expert materials for the organisation’s projects.
She brings to Bez Bariéry expertise particularly in sustainability, eco-innovation, the circular economy and the socially responsible transformation of organisations and territories. Her research supports the development of solutions that connect environmental and economic sustainability with social inclusion, accessibility and quality of life.
Mgr. Martin Rigelský, PhD.
Researcher at Bez Bariéry
Researcher | Expert in Marketing Research and Economic and Behavioural Analysis
Professional Profile
Mgr. Martin Rigelský, PhD. works in the academic and research environment, focusing on economics, management, marketing and data analytics. He is affiliated with the Faculty of Management and Business, University of Prešov in Prešov, where he is engaged in research and teaching activities in the fields of marketing research, digital and performance marketing, and quantitative methods.
His main areas of expertise include economic, managerial and marketing analysis, service economics, sustainability and the circular economy, consumer and behavioural aspects of decision-making, as well as business and data analytics. An important part of his work involves the application of analytical methods to data processing and the identification of relationships between economic, social and behavioural factors. He also has experience in leading research and educational projects and currently leads a project focused on marketing research in the context of Industry 5.0.
His professional work is characterised by a strong orientation towards empirically grounded decision-making and the translation of quantitative research findings into clear and practically applicable knowledge for academic, organisational and public policy environments.
Role in Bez Bariéry
As a researcher at Bez Bariéry, he contributes to the preparation and implementation of research projects, the design of research instruments, the analytical processing of data and models, and the preparation of the organisation’s expert and methodological outputs.
He brings to Bez Bariéry expertise particularly in quantitative research, behavioural and economic analysis, the assessment of social and regional disparities, and the identification of factors influencing behaviour, access to services and quality of life.
As part of the interdisciplinary team at Bez Bariéry, he contributes to connecting empirical research with the development of practically applicable solutions for public administration, organisations and civil society.
Working together for a barrier-free society
We believe that accessibility should be a standard, not an exception.
We cooperate with researchers, public institutions, municipalities, businesses, patient organisations and people with lived experience of barriers.
